Full-time comic artist

"Long time no see." The other party was still the same as before, and it was still quiet and deserted during the Chinese New Year.

"Long time no see." Higashino Hibiki said, holding the child and looking at her. "What brings Asahina-kun here?"

Hibiki Higashino lives in Meguro Ward, while Yuko Asahina usually lives in Nerima Ward. Although they are both in Tokyo, they are still quite far apart.

“I haven’t shown up for a long time,” Asahina said calmly as she walked beside Hibiki Higashino. “President Higashino doesn’t seem to care about the production progress of ‘Your Name,’ but I thought I should come and give him a report. I just happened to run into him on the way.”

Her tone was the same as usual, but Higashino Hibiki sensed a melancholy in it.

The president hasn't shown up for a long time, which is really bad.

Hearing Asahina Yuko talking about work, Akemi Akemi carried Higashino Mirai away so they wouldn't be disturbed.

The three of them walked out of the alley and came to the main street. Many people would come to worship during the New Year, and the street was full of people.

"Ha...ha," Higashino Hibiki said guiltily, "Wh...what happened? Your Name."

"Huh? Me?" The high school girl next to her pointed to herself. "How am I? I'm fine. Uncle, are you trying to pick me up?"

She looked Higashino Hibiki up and down, nodded in satisfaction, and said to herself, "Judging from your clothes, you must be rich, and you're not bad looking either. It only costs 20 yen."

Higashino Hibiki's face darkened.

Akemi Akemi watched, suppressing a laugh.

Yuko Asahina was confused. She was having a nice chat with Hibiki Higashino, so how did a high school girl suddenly appear?

“This is a misunderstanding,” Hibiki Higashino explained. “We are an animation production company. Let’s talk about another project.”

"Tch." The high school girl curled her lip. "I thought she was a customer."

She finished speaking casually, rolled her eyes at Higashino Hibiki, and then left.

"Is this something you can just say on the street?" Akemi Akimiya exclaimed in surprise. "Japan these days is really strange."

“Yes.” Asahina Yuko nodded.

“Someone as outstanding as me faces too many temptations,” Higashino Hibiki sighed. “Fortunately, I am devoted to Akemi.”

"I don't believe you." Akemi Akemi lowered her head shyly. "You're just saying nice things. If I weren't here, you would definitely agree."

Higashino looked at her tenderly and affectionately, "How could I possibly agree? No one else is as good as you. With Akemi, I'm content for the rest of my life."

"ring."

"Angmei."

“???” Asahina Yuko stood between the two of them, feeling superfluous.

Also, were we just discussing this?

……

"Oh, you... how's 'Your Name' going?" Under Asahina Yuko's direct gaze, Higashino Hibiki finally remembered the topic from earlier. He asked, but then, remembering the unexpected incident with the high school girl, his voice involuntarily lowered.

It has been more than a year and a half since the "Your Name" project was first conceived, and according to the progress of animated films, it is still some time before its release.

It's not an animated theatrical version.

Yuko Asahina breathed a sigh of relief; finally, she could talk about anime.

"Only the first 20 minutes of content has been produced so far, which is used to test the initial personnel coordination. It will be reset later."

"The music produced by Mr. Kamui is not quite right. We need to contact other bands. I don't know much about this, so Ms. Takagi will take charge."

"The current camera configuration is insufficient and cannot produce the effect I want. I hope that the camera resolution will be improved in a few years."

"I need to improve my personal abilities as a supervisor so as not to waste excellent works."

“The style of the original illustrator, Kitamura-kun, is very suitable for drawing ‘Your Name.’ The production team led by him has exceeded my expectations, which is really great.”

……

"Higashino-kun, are you listening?"

Yuko Asahina, who is usually quiet and reserved, can talk a lot when it comes to work.

She probably thought about what to say to Higashino Hibiki all the time, so she blurted it out in one go.

These words were unstructured and sounded more like someone looking for someone to confide in.

“Director Asahina,” Hibiki Higashino replied, “I’m listening.”

Although Professor Kamii and Tatsuta Kitamura did not know each other, and he could not offer any opinions on what Yuko Asahina said, Hibiki Higashino nodded to show that he was listening.

Twenty minutes passed, and when they arrived at the temple, Asahina Yuko finally finished speaking.

She wiped her mouth, feeling thoroughly satisfied.

"You did a great job," Hibiki Higashino praised. "Keep up the good work."

"Yes." Asahina Yuko bowed, took her leave, and turned to depart.

"Doesn't Yuko go to the New Year's Shrine?" Akemi Akemi asked curiously.

Hibiki Higashino said, "She probably doesn't want to waste her time here, or maybe she doesn't want to bother us."

Akemi Akemi sighed, "What a pity."

……

On January 7th, Hibiki Higashino came to attend the Shueisha New Year's party.

When Akimoto saw him, he gently punched Higashino Hibiki's chest. "Have you rested long enough? When are you going to draw a new work?"

Hibiki Higashino can talk about his efforts when facing other people, but he has no temper when facing Osamu Akimoto.

"I've got some ideas," Hibiki Higashino said. "If it can be serialized, it won't be long."

“I’m really looking forward to it.” Akimoto Osamu nodded, arms crossed.

Hibiki Higashino began to look forward to seeing his expression after watching "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

Can older people accept works from the new era? Haha.

“Tori Akino-kun, I’ve always had high hopes for you,” Akimoto Osamu remarked. “You strive for excellence in your work, every piece you create is worth watching, and you don’t just mess around; you’re focused on creating.”

"Not at all, you flatter me." Higashino grinned.

“I’m telling the truth,” Akimoto Osamu said earnestly.

……

Hibiki Higashino and Osamu Akimoto were chatting when a cute girl who looked to be in her early twenties with short hair kept weaving through the crowd, looking for someone.

She clutched the envelope in her hand so tightly that the thick envelope was crumpled.

"Tori Akino-sensei...Tori Akino-sensei...Ah! Found her!"

……

Higashino prepared to exchange a few polite words.

A young girl suddenly rushed up to him and bowed deeply.

Higashino Hibiki was startled by this sudden action. "Wha...what's wrong?"

Akimoto Osamu, also watching this scene, remarked, "This lady is your fan, isn't she?"

He'd encountered this kind of thing many times before, so it wasn't surprising to him.

The girl was none other than Hoshino Katsura, who held up the envelope and pointed it directly at Higashino Hibiki.

"Do you need a signature?" Hibiki Higashino asked, looking at the envelope.

"I'll give you the money!" Hoshino Katsura said loudly, her face flushed.

"Huh?" Higashino Hibiki paused, his hand still holding the pen.

"What's going on?" The well-informed Akimoto Osamu admitted that he had never seen anything like this before.

So he opened his eyes wide and watched the spectacle with a leisurely air.

"Why?" Higashino asked in surprise.

He has never met a fan who asks for money the moment they meet.

Chapter 327 Toriakino Mirai's Final Writing

Hibiki Higashino said he was frightened.

He stared blankly at the crowd; Yoshida Koji covered his face, utterly ashamed; Araki Hirohiko held a wine glass, looking around curiously; Akimoto Osamu's expression was serious, but the smile on his lips betrayed his amusement...

Eiichiro Oda, Masashi Kishimoto, Morimichi Yamamura, and many others—everyone who noticed them watched intently.

Higashino felt a chill run down his spine.

He thought about it carefully and realized he really didn't know the girl in front of him.

"Who are you?" Higashino asked.

“My name is Hoshino Katsura.” Hoshino Katsura stood up straight, holding the envelope, and said blankly.

"You should put the money away first," Higashino Hibiki sighed.

"Oh, okay." Hoshino Katsura quickly stuffed the envelope back into her backpack.

“Let’s go over there and talk,” Higashino pointed to a corner.

"I...I'm honored!"

After the two of them left, the others, realizing they couldn't watch the excitement anymore, could only continue chatting as if nothing had happened.

……

“Katsura Hoshino, the author of D.Gray-man,” Hibiki Higashino said after careful consideration, “This is a very interesting manga, and so far it’s the most exciting work at the serialization meeting…”

"Mmm!" Hoshino Katsura blushed with excitement. Her idol valued her so much, which made her extremely happy.

It's just as fun as when a comic goes through a serialization meeting.

“But…” Higashino hesitated.

"Please, teacher, just say it." Hoshino Katsura patted his barren chest. "I'm listening."

“Hmm,” Higashino Hibiki nodded, he really had to get this out of his head, “Why are you giving me money?”